Re: original sin

The problem with sociobiology is that is ignores the radical basis of
evolutionary theory, and this is why it resembles theology. Evolutionary
theory, whether Darwin took it all the way there or not, historicized
nature, showing that no form is permanent. It created a logic of selection
that was non-teleological, i.e., where explanation did not resort to
existence based on function - it is nonsensical to say that the fox grows
a white pelt to hide in the snow! Sociobiology makes precisely this
mistake: it naturalizes social formation and human behavior. It attempts
to explain the social in terms of the natural, and thus becomes the
obverse of radicalism - reactionary. Racism is to be explained by an
innate territorial imperative, that is, racism is explained by its
function to selfishly preserve the gene! From an evolutionary standpoint
this is bunk! The problem with sociobiology, if it is embraced innocently,
is that it is embraced mistakenly, from an inadequate understanding of
Darwinian evolutionary theory (of course, even Darwin made this error, so
one must take from Darwin his insight and not his reactionism).

Andrew Austin
Knoxville, TN